CLASS 6A 

Rank – Team – District – Record — Previous 

1. St. Joseph’s Prep (12)        – 7-1 – 1 

2. Garnet Valley (1)              – 9-0 – 2 

3. State College (6)               – 10-0 – 3 

4. Coatesville (1)          — 8-1 – 4 

5. Nazareth (11)           — 9-1 – 5 

6. Emmaus (11)            — 9-1 – 6 

7. North Allegheny (7) — 9-1 – 7 

8. Harrisburg (3)          — 7-2 – 8 

9. Pennsbury (1)           — 9-1 – 10 

10. Downingtown West (1)   — 8-1 – NR 

Teams to watch: Bethlehem Freedom (11) 8-2, Central York (3) 9-1, McDowell (10) 8-2, Northampton (11) 10-0, Perkiomen Valley (1) 9-1. 

CLASS 5A 

Rank – Team – District – Record — Previous 

1. Upper Dublin (1)               – 10-0 – 1 

2. Exeter Township (3)          – 10-0 – 2 

3. Imhotep Charter (12)         – 5-2 – 3 

4. Strath Haven (1)                — 10-0 – 4 

5. Bethel Park (7)                  — 9-1 – 6 

6. Cathedral Prep (10)           — 8-2 – 8 

7. Solanco (3)                        — 10-0 – 7 

8. Chester (1)                         — 9-1 – 9 

9. Roman Catholic (12)         — 7-2 – 5 

10. Upper St. Clair (7)           — 8-2 – NR 

Teams to watch: Franklin Regional (7) 7-3, Pine-Richland (7) 7-3, Plymouth-Whitemarsh (1) 8-2, New Oxford (3) 8-2. 

CLASS 4A 

Rank – Team – District – Record — Previous 

1. Aliquippa (7)            – 9-0 – 1 

2. Bishop McDevitt (3)         – 8-1 – 2 

3. Jersey Shore (4)                 – 10-0 – 3 

4. Meadville (10)         — 9-1 – 9 

5. Central Valley (7)              – 9-1 – 4 

6. Manheim Central (3)         — 9-1 – 6 

7. McKeesport (7)                 – 9-1 – 5 

8. Armstrong (7)          — 9-1 – 10 

9. Pope John Paul II (1)         — 9-1 – 7 

10. Lampeter-Strasburg (3)   — 8-2 – 8 

Teams to watch: Bonner-Prendergast (12) 8-1, Crestwood (2) 9-1, Highlands (7) 9-1, Thomas Jefferson (7) 7-3, Valley View (2) 8-2. 

CLASS 3A 

Rank – Team – District – Record — Previous 

1. Wyomissing (3)                 – 10-0 – 1 

2. Danville (4)              – 10-0 – 2 

3. Belle Vernon (7)                – 7-2 – 4 

4. Loyalsock (4)           — 9-1 – 5 

5. Avonworth (7)                   — 9-1 – 6 

6. Lancaster Catholic (3)       — 10-0 – 7 

7. Elizabeth Forward (7)       – 9-1 – 3 

8. Penn Cambria (6)              — 9-1 – 9 

9. Northwestern Lehigh (11) — 8-2 – NR 

10. Freeport (7)            — 9-1 – 10 

Teams to watch: General McLane (10) 9-1, North Schuylkill (11) 8-2, Notre Dame-Green Pond (11) 8-2, Oil City (10) 7-2, Western Wayne (2) 8-2, West Perry (3) 9-1. 

CLASS 2A 

Rank – Team – District – Record — Previous

1. Farrell (10)                        – 8-1 – 1 

2. Mount Carmel (4)              – 10-0 – 2 

3. Richland Township (6)      – 10-0 – 3 

4. Lakeland (2)             – 10-0 – 4 

5. Steel Valley (7)                 — 9-0 – 5 

6. Berlin Brothersvalley (5)  — 10-0 – 6 

7. Beaver Falls (7)                 — 9-1 – 7 

8. Westinghouse (8)              — 9-0 – 8 

9. Sto-Rox (7)                       — 7-2 – 10 

10. Williams Valley (11)       — 8-2 – NR 

Teams to watch: Central Clarion (9) 9-1, Neshannock (7) 9-1, Sharpsville (10) 8-2, Trinity (3) 6-4, Troy Area (4) 8-2. 

CLASS 1A 

Rank – Team – District – Record — Previous 

1. Canton (4)                         – 9-1 – 1 

2. Steelton-Highspire (3)       – 8-1 – 2 

3. Bishop Canevin (7) – 9-1 – 3 

4. Reynolds (10)           – 9-1 – 5 

5. Muncy (4)                          – 9-0 – 6 

6. Eisenhower (10)                — 10-0 – 8 

7. Northern Lehigh (11)        — 9-1 – 9 

8. Northern Bedford (5)        — 10-0 – 10 

9. Tri-Valley (11)                  — 9-1 – 4 

10. Redbank Valley (9)         — 9-1 – NR 

Teams to watch: Laurel (7) 9-1, Penns Manor (6) 9-1, Port Allegany (9) 9-1, South Side Area (7) 9-1, Windber (5) 9-1. 

Vote now for your 4th Down Magazine Colonial-Schuylkill League Player of the Week. Our poll will remain open until Wednesday evening at 11 p.m. Vote once per hour, per IP address for your favorite competitor. Your device must accept cookies to vote.

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Lane Lehman, Pine Grove, jr., RB/LB: Lehman made his presence felt in Pine Grove’s season finale, rushing 19 times for 101 yards and a pair of touchdowns as the Cardinals finished with a 14-6 victory over Marian Catholic. Lehman’s scores came from 1 and 4 yards out as Dave Shiffer’s squad opened a 14-0 lead in the third quarter.

Alex Achenbach, Williams Valley, jr., RB/DB: Achenbach was mighty active as Williams Valley claimed the Colonial-Schuylkill League’s Blue Division crown with a 21-14 victory at neighboring Tri-Valley. Achenbach rushed 29 times for 154 yards and one score, cashing in from 18 yards out as Tim Savage’s Vikings won their fifth straight game. Achenbach also caught two passes for 71 yards, including a 64-yard reception for the Vikes’ initial score.

Luke Stevenosky, Minersville, jr.,RB: Stevenosky carved up Navity BVM like they were a Thanksgiving Turkey. It took the junior just 17 carries to log 221 stripes–a 13 yard-per-carry average. He also hit the crib three times. Not too shabby. 

Brady Evans, Williams Valley, sr., WR/DB; Evans also played well in a big game, catching three passes for 41 yards and one touchdown. The 6-4 wideout also recorded one of Williams Valley’s four interceptions as the Vikings frustrated Tri-Valley QB Kole Miller.

Danny Darno, Notre Dame-Green Pond, jr., QB: Darno ended the regular season by picking apart Wilson Area. The junior completed 90 percent of his passes–a tiddy 9-of-10 passing for 203 yards and four scores. He chipped in another 31 stripes on the ground and rushed for another score for good measure. 
Kameron Wetzel, Tri-Valley, sr., RB/DB: Wetzel returned to the Tri-Valley lineup for the Bulldogs’ dustup with Williams Valley, a game that would decide the Colonial-Schuylkill’s Blue Division champ. Wetzel rushed 14 times for 55 yards, but he scored on runs of 34 and 9 yards to keep the Bulldogs embroiled in a tight contest. Wetzel also caught one pass for 10 yards and totaled seven tackles from his spot in the secondary.

Vote now for your 4th Down Magazine Mid-Penn Conference Player of the Week Sponsored by Crown Trophy of Harrisburg (in Lemoyne). Our poll will remain open until Tuesday evening at 11 p.m. Vote once per hour, per IP address for your favorite competitor.

Editor’s note: We have implemented new safeguards to prevent voting which falls outside the spirit of the rules in place. We reserve the right to block users who cast fraudulent votes.

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Durrell Ceasar Jr., jr., WR, Steel-High: Caesar had almost as many receiving yards (200) by himself as his Rollers defensive mates allowed to all of West Perry’s receivers (206). It was a huge game in a Mid-Penn Capital shootout Steel-High won 53-34, with Ceasar finishing with 11 receptions and two scores of 13 and 30 yards.

Alex Erby, jr., QB, Steel-High: The quarterback connecting with Ceasar all those times? That would be Alex Erby, who was nearly flawless in the division-clinching victory. Erby finished 24 of 29 for a season-high 412 yards and four touchdowns. Those TDs went for 13, 30, 60 and 30 yards to three different receivers.

Landon Eichhorn, jr., QB, Mifflin County: Eichhorn connected with three receivers for four touchdowns in a 41-7 blowout win over Red Land, finishing with 285 yards on 11 of 18 passing.

Isaac Sines, sr., QB, Cumberland Valley: Sines snapped the Eagles’ two-game losing streak with a vintage performance, throwing for 191 yards and rushing for 73 in a 37-6 win over Altoona. Sines accounted for four touchdowns and kicked a field goal.

Trey McCardell, sr., RB, Boiling Springs: The Bubblers closed the season on a high night, edging Camp Hill 35-28 to snap a six-game skid. And McCardell balled out. The senior rushed 31 times for 229 yards and two touchdowns in the win.

Drew Branstetter, so., QB, Camp Hill: It’s not often a quarterback throws for 400 yards in a loss, but that’s what Branstetter did Friday. The sophomore completed 24 of 44 passes for an even 400 stripes, tossing four touchdowns to three receivers and a pick in a 35-28 loss to the Bubblers.

Preston Burnett, fr., RB/LB, Gettysburg: No score was more dramatic or important to Gettsbyrg’s Colonial-clinching 23-16 win over Susquehanna Township than Burnett’s. The rookie scooped up a fumble and raced 50 yards to the end zone in the third quarter, capping a 14-point swing in just four plays to take the lead and the division. Burnett finished with eight carries for 60 yards on offense and four tackles on defense.

Cole Bartrum, jr., RB, Northern: The Polar Bears secured a playoff spot with a 21-14 win over Mechanicsburg, and Bartrum keyed the effort. The junior scored two crucial fourth-quarter touchdowns from 1 and 2 yards out that proved the difference and finished with 168 yards on 30 carries.

Andrew Soffe, jr., K, Waynesboro: Soffe drilled two huge kicks to lead Waynesboro to a 13-10 double-overtime win over East Pennsboro. The first was a 40-yarder with 4:41 to play that tied the game at 3-3 and forced overtime. The second came in the second extra period when he nailed a 26-yard game-winner.

Jeremiah Hargrove, jr., RB, Carlisle: The Thundering Herd locked up a Class 6A playoff spot with a come-from-behind 27-14 win over CD East. Hargrove keyed the comeback, scoring three times (covering 21, 2 and 11 yards) and finishing with 71 rushing yards and 31 receiving.

Tavon Cooper, sr., RB, Greencastle-Antrim: Cooper picked the perfect time to post a career performance. The senior shredded Shippensburg’s defense in a 42-26 road win for 249 yards and four scores on 35 tough carries. He also had two receptions for 18 yards and a TD. Cooper scored five straight Blue Devils TDs that covered 5, 6 (receiving), 12, 10 and two yards.

Stone Saunders, so., QB, Bishop McDevitt: Another big game for the signal caller fueled a 68-14 shellacking of Lower Dauphin. Saunders finished a nearly perfect 11 of 12 for 360 yards and hit multiple receivers for six total touchdowns

Ian Bates, so., RB/DB, Line Mountain: Bates rushed 27 times for 127 yards and one touchdown, but it wasn’t enough as the Eagles dropped a 25-14 verdict to Mid-Penn Liberty champ Upper Dauphin. Bates’ lone score came with 11 seconds left in the first half from 10 yards out. He crossed the 1,000-yard mark for the season.

Zach Bellis, jr., OL/LB, Newport: Bellis uncorked a strong defensive performance as Newport won its second straight game, piling up 13 tackles as the Buffaloes defeated James Buchanan 17-12. One of Bellis’ stops was a sack.

Heath Hutchinson, jr., RB/DB, Juniata: Hutchinson racked up 128 rushing yards on 17 attempts as the Indians bowled over Susquenita 19-3 in their regular-season finale. Hutchinson scored an early 33-yard touchdown. 

Welcome to the second season. The curtain slams down hard on the regular season and the attention quickly shifts to the second season.

We prefer the right lane for our driving, so before we take a peek at what lies ahead for the 16 Mid-Penn Conference squads who will play at least one more game, we are going to slow down and give the final week of the 2022 season its proper attention.

Steel-High wrapped up the Capital Division title Saturday afternoon, stunning previously undefeated West Perry with a first-quarter 27-point haymaker that put any suspense surrounding this game to rest. The Mustangs battled the final three quarters, but the outcome was never in double after 12 minutes. Steel-High amassed 544 yards of offense and 53 points. Rollers are a Class 1A state title contender for sure.

The Mustangs are the unofficial – the District 3 Power Rankings are not official until Sunday – No. 3 seed in Class 3A and will get a home game in Elliottsburg. And a 9-1 regular season is no slouch. They will rattle a few cages in the playoffs with their offensive firepower.

Gettysburg secured a Colonial Division crown in its return to the MPC after an eight-year hiatus by edging the 2022 conference runaway winner of the surprise team, the Hanna Tribe. The Warriors needed a 50-yard fumble return by Preston Burnett in the dying seconds of the third quarter and some defensive back-up in the fourth quarter to salt away a 23-16 victory. You get the feeling if these squads played 10 times they each would win five. Both are playoff bound. Remember, head coach Joe Headen’s Indians were 0-10 last season and finished 6-4 and are playoff bound.

Cumberland Valley will march into the postseason feeling better about itself after QB Isaac Sines’ four touchdown performance against Altoona. The Eagles have faced adversity and when healthy they are a tough out.

Harrisburg also closed strong and will ride into the second season on a high note after drilling Central Dauphin 42-7 behind running back Mahkai Hopkins’ 150-plus total yards and a receiving touchdown.

Northern not only took out rival Mechanicsburg by a touchdown thanks to 168 yards and a couple scores from go-to running back Cole Bartram, the Polar Bears also earned a Class 5A playoff berth. But with a 6-4 record they are going to play one of the top seeded hammers on the road.

So here are the playoff thoughts for the Mid-Penn Conference squads starting in Class 1A where Steel-High will be the champions without a doubt. Trinity and Camp Hill were the final two teams to make it in Class 2A and will be on the road. The T-Rocks and Lions are separated by one game in terms of record but the two teams feel miles apart. Trinity is the favorite in my book to win Class 2A by a fairly healthy margin. They are a 6-4 team you don’t want to face in the second season.

Upper Dauphin will join West Perry in Class 3A bracket and thankfully with a strong finish to the season the 8-2 Trojans avoided hammer No. 1 seed Wyomissing in the first round.

Bishop McDevitt ended up as the No. 1 seed in Class 4A with Manheim Central losing in Week 10 to Exeter Township in the battle of unbeatens. Milton Hershey, Susquehanna Township and East Pennsboro, who qualified with a 4-6 record round out the Class 4A reps from the MPC.

Shippensburg, who was steamrolled by Greencastle-Antrim in Week 10, and Cedar Cliff join Gettysburg and Northern in the Class 5A bracket. A friendly reminder that the Cedar Cliff Colts were 2-3 at the midway point of the season and closed with five consecutive victories to earn a second season spot the hard way.

Carlisle nabbed the final spot in Class 6A to join Harrisburg and Cumberland Valley in the big-school bracket. This field is wide open and there is not a clear-cut favorite. That’s very unusual at the highest level.

Class 6A:

The top 8 teams will advance to the District 3 Class 6A playoffs.

1	Hempfield	8-2	0.783305
2	Central York	9-1	0.780980
3	Harrisburg	7-2	0.764356
4	Cumberland Valley	7-3	0.759522
5	Manheim Township	7-3	0.736239
6	Wilson	8-2	0.726925
7	William Penn	6-3	0.702988
8	Carlisle	6-4	0.673740
9	Penn Manor	5-5	0.624524
10	Cedar Crest	5-5	0.596766
11	Dallastown	4-6	0.587678
12	Central Dauphin	3-7	0.575452
13	Red Lion	4-6	0.541645
14	Chambersburg	3-7	0.532250
15	Reading	3-7	0.506479
16	CD East	3-7	0.505703
17	J P McCaskey	1-9	0.395499
18.	Lebanon	0-10	0.271393
19.	York County School of Tech.	1-9	0.215316

Class 5A:

The top 12 teams will advance to the District 3 Class 5A playoffs.

1.	Solanco	10-0	0.823923
2.	Exeter Township	10-0	0.767674
3.	New Oxford	8-1	0.737698
4.	Gettysburg	8-2	0.719833
5.	Elizabethtown	8-2	0.698309
6.	South Western	7-3	0.693245
7.	Dover	8-2	0.680841
8.	Shippensburg	7-3	0.671469
9.	Cedar Cliff	7-3	0.646928
10.	Garden Spot	7-3	0.625125
11.	Northern York	6-4	0.619777
12.	Cocalico	6-4	0.616529
13.	Ephrata	6-4	0.605706
14.	Warwick	5-5	0.596842
15.	Conestoga Valley	5-5	0.586566
16.	Spring Grove Area	5-5	0.571742
17.	Hershey	5-5	0.571598
18.	Greencastle-Antrim	4-5	0.532663
19.	Mechanicsburg	4-6	0.528901
20.	Governor Mifflin	3-7	0.505587
21.	Lower Dauphin	4-6	0.503262
22.	Waynesboro	3-7	0.466588
23.	Red Land	2-8	0.388034
24.	Muhlenberg	2-8	0.367016
25.	Northeastern	1-9	0.359387
26.	Palmyra	1-9	0.313112

Class 4A:

The top 10 teams will advance to the District 3 Class 4A playoffs.

1.	Bishop McDevitt (3)	8-1	0.749140
2.	Manheim Central	8-1	0.708052
3.	Lampeter Strasburg	8-2	0.693834
4.	Twin Valley	6-4	0.606986
5.	Milton Hershey	6-4	0.583698
6.	Susquehanna Township	6-4	0.582350
7.	York Suburban	6-4	0.550706
8.	East Pennsboro	4-6	0.510506
9.	Kennard Dale	4-6	0.501977
10.	Donegal	4-6	0.478860
11.	Boiling Springs	4-6	0.462615
12.	Big Spring	4-6	0.447400
13.	Susquehannock	3-7	0.442396
14.	Eastern Lebanon County	4-6	0.441580
15.	Daniel Boone	2-8	0.437015
16.	Conrad Weiser	3-7	0.423429
17.	West York	2-8	0.401708
18.	Fleetwood	2-8	0.370396
19.	Eastern York	2-8	0.341905
20.	Northern Lebanon	2-8	0.324516
21.	James Buchanan	2-7	0.302299
22.	Octorara	1-9	0.299861
23.	Middletown	0-9	0.236587

Class 3A:

The top 6 teams will advance to the District 3 Class 3A playoffs.

1.	Wyomissing	10-0	0.754339
2.	Lancaster Catholic	10-0	0.739688
3.	West Perry	9-1	0.675061
4.	Hamburg	8-2	0.590485
5.	Upper Dauphin	8-2	0.574147
6.	Schuylkill Valley	6-4	0.531094
7.	Berks Catholic	4-6	0.503376
8.	Littlestown	6-4	0.490961
9.	Susquenita	5-5	0.453001
10.	Bermudian Springs	4-6	0.405918
11.	Biglerville	4-6	0.371133
12.	Kutztown	3-7	0.337608
13.	Hanover (3)	3-7	0.329016
14.	Pequea Valley	2-8	0.300138

Class 2A:

The top 4 teams will advance to the District 3 Class 2A playoffs.

1.	Annville-Cleona	7-3	0.578140
2.	Delone Catholic	7-3	0.574584
3.	Trinity	6-4	0.563112
4.	Camp Hill	5-5	0.475673
5.	York Catholic	5-5	0.470105
6.	Columbia	3-7	0.363455
7.	Newport	2-8	0.320309

Class 1A:

The top 2 teams will advance to the District 3 Class 1A playoffs.

1.	Steel-High	8-1	0.700225
2.	Fairfield	2-7	0.313653
3.	Halifax	0-9	0.199915

The folks from Tri-Valley sure know how to support their team. And boy did they have Reece Huntzinger’s back in Week 9. Their stud linebacker deserved every vote–all 827– he earned to top Williams Valley’s Brady Evans and Minersville’s Brock Polinsky.

Huntzinger wreaked all sorts of havoc throughout Tri-Valley’s 33-7 conquest of Marian Catholic, rushing 10 times for 34 yards and two scores before playing a significant role in limiting the Colts’ offensive attack. Huntzinger totaled nine tackles from his inside backer spot – including 1.5 quarterback sacks – but he also picked off a Marian throw.

It was a breakout game, the best of the season for Eli Farence.

His four catches for 67 yards and a 32-yard touchdown marked perhaps his best performance on offense, and he copied the feat on defense with five tackles and two interceptions–the second at the 4-yard line with 26 seconds left locked up an Upper Dauphin victory. . 

That two-way play was enough for Upper Dauphin fans to vote the senior receiver/defensive back this week’s 4th Down Magazine Player of the Week. Farence’s efforts helped the Trojans secure a 42-35 win over Big Spring.

Farence has been steady for UDA this season, with 26 tackles and three picks on defense, and 13 receptions for 237 yards and two scores on offense.

He earned 210 of the 833 total votes cast, beating Line Mountain running back/linebacker Chandon Maurer (182) for Week 9 honors.

Someone is going to leave the Hegins-Valley View Metroplex this weekend in a mighty favorable mood and with some hardware.

Will it be Williams Valley or will it be Tri-Valley that claims the football scrap between fiercely competitive neighborhoods?

And for those muttering about how these remarkably successful grid programs are always playing for something meaningful — well, they usually are — this is the first season in some time the Vikings and Bulldogs will meet only once.

That’s right, just once.

While Tri-Valley (9-0, 4-0) comes into this weekend’s matchup ranked fourth in Pennsylvania’s Class 1A polls, Jeff Sampson’s Bulldogs also hold the No. 1 spot in District 11’s Class 1A power rankings.

Sampson’s Bulldogs knocked over their ninth straight victim last weekend, handling Colonial-Schuylkill League Blue Division playmate Marian Catholic by a 33-7 count. Yet even though Tri-Valley didn’t have a fantastic night offensively, a defensive unit led by Reece Huntzinger and Jake Scheib was terrific.

Although Huntzinger paced the Bulldogs with nine tackles, Scheib totaled six stops from his wide berth on the defensive front. Not only did Huntzinger share two sacks with Shawn Bowman (seven tackles), he also recorded an interception and fell on a fumble.

Jolten Flory and Layne Yoder added picks for Tri-Valley, which limited run-happy Marian to just 102 rushing yards and forced the Colts to throw.

Tri-Valley’s 20-7 halftime lead likely factored into Marian’s tactical plan as well.

Offensively, Scheib rumbled for 99 yards and one touchdown on eight attempts. Huntzinger added 34 yards and two scores on 10 totes, while Noah Porter’s five-carry night resulted in 32 yards and another Bulldog TD.

In and out of the lineup throughout the season due to injuries, the Bulldogs really hope Kameron Wetzel can be full go — particularly since the senior gives Sampson’s bunch a home-run and receiving threat.

Quarterback Kole Miller may be the X-factor, however, since he can throw the football and run it. Miller last weekend rushed six times for 28 yards, but he was 6-for-15 passing for 119 yards and two interceptions.

Flory hauled in three throws for 48 yards, while Scheib gained 60 yards on two catches. Yoder and Jake Tietsworth added one reception each.

Williams Valley (7-2, 4-0) didn’t push its front-line players last weekend and really didn’t need to in a 42-22 conquest of Shenandoah Valley. Particularly since Tim Savage’s Vikings were leading 42-0 at the halftime break.

Sophomore Kian Krzyzanowski caught a pair of touchdown passes for Williams Valley that covered 68 yards, and he pocketed an interception. Lead target Brady Evans added three catches for 81 yards and another score.

Feature back Alex Achenbach only touched the football four times, but he was extremely productive in racking up 101 rushing yards and two touchdowns.

Starting quarterback Isaac Whiteash completed both of his throws for 57 yards and one touchdown, while freshman Brady Shomper came on in relief and was 4-for-6 passing for 135 yards and a pair of scores.

Williams Valley’s other touchdown came on a 61-yard fumble return by Cruz Banda. Senior Bryant Hoover paced the Vikings with seven stops.

Since Savage’s squad has clinched a spot in District 11’s Class 2A field — the Vikings sit third behind Palisades and Executive Education — Williams Valley will be playing someone next week as the chase for 11-2A gold begins.

What’s different is Tri-Valley isn’t blocking Williams Valley’s pursuit of 11-2A supremacy, while the Vikings aren’t in the Bulldogs’ path to 11-1A glory. Yet even though someone will leave Hegins happy, they both could be celebrating district titles in a few weeksand starting their preparations for state play.

Pine Grove hoping to close on winning note

Finally finished with Colonial-Schuylkill Red Division play, Dave Shiffer’s Pine Grove Cardinals have a solid chance to head into the offseason riding some positive waves — assuming a victory over Marian Catholic materializes.

Subjected to an efficient aerial attack orchestrated by Danny Darno, the Cardinals (2-7) were victimized by five touchdown passes and 263 yards throwing in a 48-14 loss to visiting Notre Dame-Green Pond.

While Darno’s night was highlighted by his handful of touchdown throws, he finished 27 of 36 passing for 263 yards.

That won’t happen this weekend against Marian Catholic (4-5), which prefers to run the ball down opposing defenses’ collective throats. Stan Dakosty’s Colts didn’t have much success with that run-first approach the past two weekends against Williams Valley and Tri-Valley, falling 40-7 and 33-7, respectively.

Marian, which lost to Line Mountain in Week 4, also is trying to avoid going 0-4 against teams that once called the Twin Valley Conference home.  

Pine Grove only piled up 52 rushing yards last weekend, but Lane Lehman netted 43 of them on 11 attempts. Shiffer & Co. will try to get him going.

If not, the Cards will rely on quarterback Mason Kroh. Making his final appearance in a Pine Grove uniform, Kroh last weekend was 7 of 19 passing for 156 yards and one score. Owen Hannevig caught three passes for 86 yards, with his touchdown reception part of that haul.

Pine Grove also received productive efforts defensively from Brody Ibarra (11 tackles, one sack), Nick Wolff (10) and Lehman (8).

Perhaps it’s entirely fitting that Upper Dauphin is on the cusp of claiming an outright Mid-Penn Liberty Division championship — nearly 50 years since Tom Hain’s Trojans decked Millersburg to win the Twin Valley crown.

Then again, maybe it’s mere coincidence.

Yet while Hain remains involved in the UDA football program as an offensive mentor, there’s still business at hand.

And, quite simply, there’s nothing Line Mountain (4-5, 3-2 Mid-Penn Liberty) would enjoy more than to upend the Trojans (7-2, 5-0) and force their neighbors to share the Mid-Penn Liberty crown with someone.

Although UDA stepped out of league play last weekend, current head coach Kent Smeltz’s squad was forced to fend off Big Spring before leaving Cumberland County with a 42-35 win that stretched the Trojans’ winning streak to six games and kept them plugged into the sixth and final District 3 Class 3A playoff spot.

Since finishing fifth is a mathematical possibility, there’s more work to be accomplished — in addition to celebrating outright Liberty supremacy.

Senior feature back Brady Morgan rushed for 153 yards and three touchdowns — all in the opening half — on 14 carries against Big Spring and caught three passes for 45 yards.

Quarterback Aidan Bingaman also enjoyed a productive performance, completing 13 of his 21 pass attempts for 185 yards and a trio of touchdowns — one each to Eli Farence (4 receptions, 67 yards), Konner Walker (3-40) and Alex Hepler (3-33).

All helped the Trojans build a 35-13 halftime advantage.

Farence picked off two passes, while Landon Mace fell on a fumble. Backer Caleb Snyder totaled 15 tackles for a UDA defensive unit that posted 17 stops for loss and five sacks but allowed 474 yards. Morgan and Hepler added seven tackles each.

Sporting its own Mid-Penn Liberty Division championship hopes when Week 9 began, Line Mountain appeared headed for its fourth straight victory by building a 10-0 halftime lead at Juniata while limiting the Indians to 3 rushing yards.

Things changed dramatically, however, as Juniata limited Brandon Carson’s attack to 13 plays from scrimmage. The Indians ultimately won 14-10 behind 1-yard touchdown runs from Seth Laub and Aaron Kanagy.

Ian Bates paced the Eagles with 57 yards and one touchdown on 18 attempts and is close to becoming the first sophomore in Line Mountain history to crack the 1,000-yard barrier.

Bates, however, was limited to just 5 yards after the break. Brayden Boyer’s 31-yard field goal accounted for the other Line Mountain points.

Quarterback Kaiden Maurer completed 5 of 8 throws for just 26 yards and one touchdown. The Eagles finished with 124 offensive yards.

Inside linebacker Chandon Maurer was tremendous throughout the closely contested 48-minute scrap, registering 13 solo tackles (three tackles for loss) while assisting on three others.

The Indians now need the Eagles’ help in claiming a share of the Mid-Penn Liberty. Even Juniata skipper Kurt Condo couldn’t help but chuckle at that notion while answering questions following the game.

Carson’s Eagles, who edged in front of Hughesville, also are playing for a higher seed in the District 4 Class 2A playoffs. A victory would cement that No. 5 spot for Line Mountain, particularly since UDA is a Class 3A program. Hughesville will be playing neighboring Muncy, an undefeated Class A squad.

Juniata, Susquenita hoping for share of Liberty crown

While Juniata had its shot at Upper Dauphin in Week 8, the Indians (6-3, 4-1) watched a short pick-6  and a fumble inside the Trojans’ 5 in the final minute lead to UDA’s 20-13 win in Elizabethville. Hence, the position everyone’s in.

Should Line Mountain prevail, the Juniata-Susquenita survivor will share the Mid-Penn Liberty crown with Upper Dauphin. If the Trojans win, second place will go to Juniata or a Susquenita side (5-4, 4-1) that’s won three straight.

While Laub and Kanagy posted the Juniata touchdowns — Kanagy finished 6 for 16 passing for 121 yards — Lane Peiper’s stop of an airborne Bates on fourth-and-short at the Line Mountain 44 was big. So was Makih Hunt’s late sack.

Getting three touchdown passes from Derek Gibney (12 of 24, two INTs, 177 yards), Susquenita rolled to a 43-12 conquest of James Buchanan. Gibney’s TD throws went to Drew Gibney (6 yards), Kamar Lewis (14 yards) and Athan Robinson (41 yards) as Augie Glass’ Blackhawks constructed a 29-6 halftime lead.

Mason Figard and Bryce McKee added scoring runs of 3 and 15 yards, while Susquenita also picked up a 30-yard fumble return from Laiken Miller.

Newport searching for second straight victory

Mason Messick and Dalton Kratzer each rushed for touchdowns as Newport snapped an eight-game skid with a 14-7 victory at Halifax. Kratzer rushed 17 times for 93 yards.

Now, Todd Rothermel’s Buffaloes (1-8, 1-4) hope to ground James Buchanan (3-6, 1-4) at George Katchmer Field and close out 2022 on a positive note.

One of four Buffaloes to record interceptions, Zach Bellis paced the ‘Port defensive unit with eight tackles. Tyler Geer, Dylan Vadasz and Messick also swiped passes for the Buffs, who yielded just 154 total yards.

James Buchanan dropped its fifth consecutive contest, falling 43-12 to Susquenita. Jacob Frey rushed for 167 yards and a 63-yard score for JB, which conceded three Derek Gibney TD passes.

Halifax to close out against visiting Trinity

While Earl Mosley’s Halifax squad came mighty close to snapping a five-game skid, the Wildcats tumbled 14-7 to Newport. Isaac Miller’s 9-yard touchdown run halved a 14-0 deficit with 4:50 left in the third quarter, but the ‘Cats could draw no closer against a Buffaloes squad that claimed its first win.

Miller finished with 66 yards on 12 carries, while Peter Ranck hauled in eight passes for 61 yards and rushed four times for 39 yards for Halifax (1-8).

Miller amassed an amazing 25 tackles defensively, including one sack.

He’ll need a similar effort to slow down a Trinity squad (5-4) that lost 35-28 in overtime to state-ranked Steel-High. Christian Joy and Messiah Mickens each wheeled for 100-plus rushing yards in the loss, with Joy netting two TDs.

EXPLAINING OUR PICKS: The 4th Down Magazine crew picks all games involving Mid-Penn Conference teams, as well as Schuylkill-Colonial League games featuring former members of the now-defunct Twin Valley Conference. Come playoff time, they’ll expand to include all District 3 teams, as well as the local District 4, District 6 and District 11 programs. Then they’ll get really bold in the state semifinals and start picking games across the state. The predictions are meant for entertainment purposes only because, truth be told, these guys aren’t very bright. Three of them are former full-time sportswriters (dummies), and the other decided to start a high school football magazine despite the fact he already works a full-time job. But, dangit, they like to watch football, think about football, write about football, and eat. That last one isn’t related to picking football games unless you count the mustard on the keyboard. As always, enjoy, and don’t take it too seriously. Nobody here hates any program. Any perceived disrespect is a figment of your imagination. Except Sandrik, who absolutely DESPISES … (transmission interrupted) …

2022 STANDINGS DURING WEEK 10

Picker: Week 10 – Overall – Perfect Picks
Adam Kulikowski: 15-5 — 182-55 — 0
Andy Shay: 15-5 — 177-60 — 2
Andy Sandrik: 15-5 — 175-62 — 1
Geoff Morrow: 12-8 — 172-65 — 1

WEEK 10 SCHEDULE

 * In scorelines, home team in all caps

Friday, Oct. 28

MID-PENN COMMONWEALTH

CUMBERLAND VALLEY 37, Altoona 6

Andy Shay: Cumberland Valley 31, Altoona 14: Eagles have dropped two in a row and are looking to reclaim that winning feeling heading into the second season. Mountain Lions have dropped three of their last four. 

Geoff Morrow: Cumberland Valley 30, Altoona 20: Seems like a good opportunity for the Eagles to get back on the winning track heading into the postseason. Both teams enter on mini two-game slides.

Andy Sandrik: Cumberland Valley 33, Altoona 17: How much fight do the Eagles have after watching a 17-point lead evaporate against State College? If CV’s heads are in this game, it’s their game to lose.

Adam Kulikowski: Cumberland Valley 35, Altoona 17: If you’re the Eagles, now is the time to find that good mojo that was flowing so easily through the first two-thirds of the season. 

Carlisle 27, CENTRAL DAUPHIN EAST 14

Andy Shay: Carlisle 21, CD East 14: Thundering Herd have a playoff berth on the line. The Panthers are playing for pride and ran over rival Central Dauphin last week. Beware of the team with confidence and playing for pride.

Geoff Morrow: Carlisle 24, CD East 18: Very interesting game with East coming off a blowout of rival Central Dauphin, and Carlisle on the precipice of a playoff berth. Not sure if Dallastown would have enough to overtake the Herd for the last playoff spot if it beats Red Lion and Carlisle loses here, but a win erases any doubt.

Andy Sandrik: Carlisle 26, CD East 24: I was much more sure on the outcome of this game BEFORE the Panthers went out and blasted Central Dauphin last week. Now, I’m not so sure.

Adam Kulikowski: Carlisle 24, CD East 23: In a season that has not gone how Lance Deane and the crew at CD East would have liked, you have to give them props for the fight they continue to have. Says a TON about their character. 

State College 36, CHAMBERSBURG 7

Andy Shay: State College 49, Chambersburg 7: The Little Lions have been a dominant squad and are on the cusp of completing a perfect regular season. The playoffs are coming, and those lofty goals for this club are legitimate. Savor the 10-0 first. It’s not as easy as SC made it look.

Geoff Morrow: State College 48, Chambersburg 14: Little Lions just one win away from finishing their first unbeaten regular season since 2008. Note that just one of this season’s wins – Week 2 at Downingtown East – was played within single digits.

Andy Sandrik: State College 44, Chambersburg 10: I can’t understate how difficult it is to make it through the Commonwealth Division with an unbeaten record. This has been a remarkable run for the Little Lions.

Adam Kulikowski: State College 49, Chambersburg 14: Little Lions have been lit all year. No reason to let down now with the playoffs just a week away. 

MID-PENN KEYSTONE

BISHOP McDEVITT 68, Lower Dauphin 14

Andy Shay: Bishop McDevitt 55, Lower Dauphin 7: Competition has been very hard to come by for the Crusaders for weeks. That trend continues.

Geoff Morrow: Bishop McDevitt 59, Lower Dauphin 14: A win here coupled with a Manheim Central loss to Exeter would likely give the Crusaders the top seed in the upcoming District 3 Class 4A tournament. However, Lampeter-Strasburg could leapfrog McD with a win over Wyomissing. No matter what, there are some hammers atop the 4A field.

Andy Sandrik: Bishop McDevitt 54, Lower Dauphin 7: McDevitt basically had the Keystone Division wrapped up in the preseason, but this will make it official. More competitive games are on the horizon for the Crusaders.

Adam Kulikowski: Bishop McDevitt 65, Lower Dauphin 13: Wishing Crusaders athletic director Tommy Mealy the absolute best as he prepares to take on a new challenge with Elco later this year. Tommy played a critical role in helping 4th Down get off the ground, for which we will be forever grateful. 

CEDAR CLIFF 38, Milton Hershey 14

Andy Shay: Cedar Cliff 28, Milton Hershey 20: Combined, the Colts and Spartans bring seven consecutive wins to the table. Confidence will be high, and whoever better handles adversity inside this game will prevail.

Geoff Morrow: Cedar Cliff 27, Milton Hershey 23: Second place in the Keystone on the line here, as well as playoff positioning. Both teams are running hot – four-game streak for the Colts, three-game streak for the Spartans. Should be a very entertaining game.

Andy Sandrik: Cedar Cliff 28, Milton Hershey 26: QBs Kenny Emile (Milton Hershey) and Bennett Secrest (Cedar Cliff) have combined for 28 TDs this season. Could we see an air display at West Shore Stadium?

Adam Kulikowski: Milton Hershey 34, Cedar Cliff 28: Two teams hitting their stride at just about the perfect time. Give me the Spartans and the still-under-the-radar QB Kenny Emile. 

HERSHEY 17, Palmyra 7

Andy Shay: Hershey 31, Palmyra 14: Trojans have made the very most possible out of what they have, and a .500 season would be quite an accomplishment. Cougars are still fighting and haven’t tossed in the towel.

Geoff Morrow: Hershey 28, Palmyra 13: The Cougars played Milton Hershey tough last week, and they’ll need another superb effort to avoid ending the 2022 campaign on a nine-game losing streak. Though not ticketed for the playoffs, the Trojans could still seal their first full-season .500-or-better campaign (not counting 2020’s covid-shortened 5-1 mark) since 2013 with a win here.

Andy Sandrik: Hershey 24, Palmyra 13: The Cougars would really like to avoid ending their season on a nine-game losing streak, but doing so will require an upset victory over their backyard rivals. 

Adam Kulikowski: Hershey 35, Palmyra 7: Nothing but pride on the line in this one. Still, it would take a huge offensive performance for the Cougars to get a much-need victory. 

MIFFLIN COUNTY 41, Red Land 7

Andy Shay: Mifflin County 37, Red Land 7: In the games where the playing field is level, the Huskies have enjoyed some success.

Geoff Morrow: Mifflin County 22, Red Land 10: Huskies guarantee themselves their first winning season since 2018 with a victory over the Patriots.

Andy Sandrik: Mifflin County 28, Red Land 12: The Huskies are not only out of the Keystone Division basement, they’re in a great position to clinch a winning season.

Adam Kulikowski: Mifflin County 33, Red Land 20: Finding the right feel for the Huskies has been a challenge for me all season. Here’s to ending on a high note with this crew. 

MID-PENN COLONIAL

WAYNESBORO 13, East Pennsboro 10 (2OT)

Andy Shay: East Pennsboro 20, Waynesboro 17: Couple of teams with high hopes early on that have long since faded. This game is about who still has the desire and hunger. On paper it’s even. 

Geoff Morrow: Waynesboro 17, East Pennsboro 13: Two teams slipping into the offseason on ugly losing streaks. Who puts it together for a triumphant Week 10? 

Andy Sandrik: East Pennsboro 21, Waynesboro 17: Both squads have been taking it on the chin as of late. Just a little more offensive consistency from the Panthers to take them in this 50/50 scrap.

Adam Kulikowski: Waynesboro 21, East Pennsboro 20: I see plenty of paths for either team to add one more notch to the win column. Both teams have to be disappointed with the way this season played out. 

Gettysburg 23, SUSQUEHANNA TOWNSHIP 16

Andy Shay: Gettysburg 28, Susquehanna Township 21: The hotter team is clearly the ‘Hanna Tribe. Gettysburg was served a big-time dose of Colonial humble pie last week. Now it has to earn an outright division title the hard way or it’s a shared crown.

Geoff Morrow: Susquehanna Township 30, Gettysburg 21: No stopping the ‘Hanna right now, it seems. And a win here would mean splitting the Colonial crown multiple ways. Does it cut like a cake?

Andy Sandrik: Gettysburg 33, Susquehanna Township 28: The pride of the Colonial Division rests on ‘Hanna stopping Gettysburg from taking the division outright in its maiden voyage. It’s very possible, but the Warriors didn’t get to this point by not being a good football team.

Adam Kulikowski: Gettysburg 24, Susquehanna Township 22: The key to me for the Warriors? Jump out to an early lead. As hot as Township has been, this is a club that plays differently when they take the first punch. 

Greencastle-Antrim 42, SHIPPENSBURG 26

Andy Shay: Shippensburg 28, Greencastle-Antrim 17: Just feels like the Greyhounds are playing their best football of the season right now. The Blue Devils had such a promising start but have fallen on hard times.

Geoff Morrow: Shippensburg 31, Greencastle-Antrim 14: Eleven straight wins for the Greyhounds against the Blue Devils, including 10 straight by double digits. A win here and a Gettysburg loss means Ship would get a piece of the Colonial title, too.

Andy Sandrik: Shippensburg 34, Greencastle-Antrim 17: The Greyhounds have hit their stride just in time for the postseason. Greencastle seemed destined for a winning season but now is in danger of a 4-6 campaign after starting 4-0.

Adam Kulikowski: Shippensburg 36, Greencastle-Antrim 20: You almost get spoiled by how good the Greyhounds have been over the last several years. While this club may not have the same luster, the end results are looking mighty close heading into the postseason.

Northern York 21, MECHANICSBURG 14

Andy Shay: Northern 20, Mechanicsburg 14: Not a lot of love lost between these nextdoor rivals, and that’s part of the equation. Polar Bears want to pound the rock and be physical. Up to the Wildcats’ defense to be a difference maker in order to pull off the very mild upset.

Geoff Morrow: Mechanicsburg 16, Northern 14: As quickly as I made friends last week accurately predicting the Polar Bears’ one-point win over Gettysburg, I’m going to lose them this week with yet another Colonial “upset” pick, though I’m not sure anything in the Colonial this year should qualify as an upset. Both teams here have been playing well, so my edge goes to the ‘Cats because of home-field advantage. Again, the winner here shares a piece of the Colonial title IF Gettysburg loses.

Andy Sandrik: Northern 21, Mechanicsburg 20: The Polar Bears have played in four games decided by just one point. With rival Mechanicsburg taking the field, this could very well be another razor-thin decision.

Adam Kulikowski: Northern 24, Mechanicsburg 21: Can the Polar Bears get off this roller coaster this week after stopping Gettysburg from claiming the Colonial Division title last week? 

MID-PENN CAPITAL

Boiling Springs 35, CAMP HILL 28

Andy Shay: Camp Hill 21, Boiling Springs 14: Both clubs are looking to find that warm and fuzzy feeling that comes with a victory. Bubblers have lost six straight and the Lions are on a three-game slide.

Geoff Morrow: Camp Hill 20, Boiling Springs 13: There would have been a lot more fanfare for this game if it happened in the first few weeks of the season, but here in Week 10, both teams are dragging themselves across the finish line. The Lions benefit from having a “next week” on the horizon.

Andy Sandrik: Camp Hill 24, Boiling Springs 17: Coin flip game to me, but I like Camp Hill’s résumé just a little better.

Adam Kulikowski: Camp Hill 24, Boiling Springs 21: Each team desperately wants to end the regular season on a high note, but the Lions simply have more at stake.

MID-PENN LIBERTY

NEWPORT 17, James Buchanan 12

Andy Shay: Newport 14, James Buchanan 13: After getting that elusive first victory, the Buffaloes close out the campaign with two in a row here. Rockets will have a say in this outcome, though.

Geoff Morrow: James Buchanan 25, Newport 22: When I originally saw this game on the schedule, I assumed I would quickly take the ‘Port. However, I’m suddenly drawn to the Rockets, who enjoyed their success early in the season while the Buffaloes finally won their first game last week. Can’t explain it, but I think JB hangs tough here and maybe even prevails.

Andy Sandrik: Newport 28, James Buchanan 14: My gut is telling me to take Newport for no other reason than the Buffs have tasted victory more recently. 

Adam Kulikowski: James Buchanan 21, Newport 14: Touchdowns will be at a premium Friday night. Rockets just seem to have a few more weapons who could provide a spark. 

Juniata 19, SUSQUENITA 3

Andy Shay: Juniata 13, Susquenita 7: The Indians haven’t scored more than 14 points in each of their last three games. And Juniata is 2-1 in those contests. That tells you all you need to know.

Geoff Morrow: Juniata 29, Susquenita 21: Because the Blackhawks have built some extra confidence with three straight blowout victories against overmatched opponents, I think they keep this one tight. But gotta believe the playoff-bound Indians find a way.

Andy Sandrik: Juniata 21, Susquenita 10: Don’t look now, but the Blackhawks have won three straight and now have a chance to end their regular season with a winning record. Something tells me Juniata’s defense has the final say in this one, though. 

Adam Kulikowski: Juniata 21, Susquenita 7: ‘Nita takes plenty of aggressive swings on offense, which figures to be a high-risk approach against one of the most pesky defenses in the Mid-Penn. 

Upper Dauphin 25, LINE MOUNTAIN 14

Andy Shay: Upper Dauphin 28, Line Mountain 20: Trojans have a Liberty Division crown at stake, and the Eagles, despite the loss last week, have been rock solid for a month. Intriguing tilt.

Geoff Morrow: Upper Dauphin 35, Line Mountain 21: If things hold in the District 3 Class 3A playoff picture, we could see a UD vs. West Perry postseason game, and wouldn’t that be fun?

Andy Sandrik: Upper Dauphin 40, Line Mountain 19: Both teams have settled into a nice groove, but the Trojans just have more traction and a division crown to play for. 

Adam Kulikowski: Upper Dauphin 38, Line Mountain 21: The Trojans seem fully prepared to answer the bell in the District 3 Class 3A playoffs. Great test for this crew in Week 10.

SCHUYLKILL-COLONIAL BLUE

Williams Valley 21, TRI-VALLEY 14

Andy Shay: Tri-Valley 32, Williams Valley 22: This one has all the earmarks of a classic. The rivalry is still very much alive, and the Bulldogs are unbeaten and have won in a variety of ways, so they are battle tested. Vikings will take their shots, make no mistake about it.

Geoff Morrow: Tri-Valley 27, Williams Valley 26: Far from a gimme for the unbeaten Bulldogs against their bitter rivals, but they’ve clearly been the more consistent team this season. The Vikings, however, own recent history with wins in eight of the last 10 meetings, including 28-13 in last year’s postseason. Bring snacks.

Andy Sandrik: Williams Valley 26, Tri-Valley 25: Tri-Valley is the favorite here, but if there’s a team that has the confidence and swagger to knock off the Bulldogs, it’s the Vikings.

Adam Kulikowski: Williams Valley 31, Tri-Valley 28: Perhaps the most intriguing tilt on the docket in Week 10, this is a true slobberknocker in every sense. 

NON-LEAGUE

PINE GROVE 14, Marian Catholic 6

Andy Shay: Marian Catholic 34, Pine Grove 7: Cardinals are surrendering nearly 40 points a game, and that’s hard to overcome for any offense on a weekly basis. Been a long season for PG.

Geoff Morrow: Marian Catholic 21, Pine Grove 13: The Cardinals will be a welcome foe for the Colts after getting dismantled by Williams Valley and then Tri-Valley in Weeks 8 and 9. But I wouldn’t expect a blowout, not if Pine Grove is determined to close a forgettable campaign on a high note.

Andy Sandrik: Marian Catholic 27, Pine Grove 14: I’m not completely convinced MC takes this game in blowout fashion. As many points as Pine Grove has given up this season, the Cardinals have shown improvements on offense over the second half of the season. 

Adam Kulikowski: Marian Catholic 24, Pine Grove 7: The Colts have to be thrilled to make the trek to Cardinal territory after battling Williams Valley and Tri-Valley the last two weeks. 

Trinity 55, HALIFAX 14

Andy Shay: Trinity 42, Halifax 0: Perfect game for the Shamrocks to get some work in, prepare for the second season and finish above .500 overall.

Geoff Morrow: Trinity 59, Halifax 6: As neither Annville-Cleona nor Delone Catholic – the two teams ahead of Trinity in the District 3 Class 2A power rankings – should lose this weekend, it appears the Shamrocks will hit the road for the first round of playoffs. No big deal, because no matter where they play, they have built themselves up for this postseason dance. This is just a warmup.

Andy Sandrik: Trinity 45, Halifax 0: It’s time for the young JV Shamrocks to have some time in the limelight. 

Adam Kulikowski: Trinity 48, Halifax 6: The Shamrocks seem to have found another gear since their Week 4 loss to West Perry. No slow-down on tap in this Week 10 tilt. 

Saturday, Oct. 29

MID-PENN CAPITAL

STEELTON-HIGHSPIRE 53, West Perry 34

Andy Shay: Steel-High 34, West Perry 31: The Mustangs have been flying high offensively all season; don’t expect that to change. This will be the best defense they’ve bumped up against. And the West Perry defense can be a little loose in stretches, and this Rollers offense makes high demands of every defense.

Geoff Morrow: West Perry 39, Steel-High 32: A couple of observations here: This is the first time these teams have played since 2015, so the familiarity is game film and word-of-mouth only; Both are awesome and explosive; West Perry’s defense has surrendered some points lately, which is a concerning trend entering a game vs. the Rollers; The Mustangs, though, will be INCREDIBLY fired up, so Steel-High will need to match that early energy.

Andy Sandrik: West Perry 48, Steel-High 39: I’ve been told by Luke Roman, a correspondent for the Perry County Times, that WP has a chance to be the fifth unbeaten team in PeCo history. The others are Newport (1953), Perry Joint (1959), Susquenita (1976) and West Perry (1989).

Adam Kulikowski: Steel-High 41, West Perry 40: The only thing standing between West Perry and an undefeated regular season is the toughest matchup they’ve faced all year. It’ll take their best effort to knock off the Rollers. 

MID-PENN COMMONWEALTH

HARRISBURG 42, Central Dauphin 7

Andy Shay: Harrisburg 35, Central Dauphin 0: No idea what went down with the Rams last week, but Harrisburg needs this win and has everything to play for, and CD has been up-and-down all season.

Geoff Morrow: Harrisburg 49, Central Dauphin 3: Not going to speculate on what happened to CD last week, and I’m not sure it matters. The Cougars are preparing for the postseason; the Rams are not.

Andy Sandrik: Harrisburg 45, Central Dauphin 7: If CD East can put a hurting on CD, what can Harrisburg do?

Adam Kulikowski: Harrisburg 43, Central Dauphin 14: Cougars have plenty to play for this week – and against a club that struggled mightily against 3-win CD East squad. Coach Cal’s gents should get a great postseason tune-up.Canceled: Big Spring at Middletown (Bulldogs win by forfeit)